Our People
Ian Gear - Director
Ian Gear has a reputation for leading, implementing and delivering high quality, cost-effective, pragmatic solutions.
He is a strategic and conceptual thinker. A talented leader able to consider the greater picture whether within an organisation, across a community, nationally or internationally.
Ian is a skilled business risk manager, able to effectively manage complex political relationships with central and local government, industry groups, staff and other stakeholders. A skilled facilitator.
Ian has over 35 years’ experience in management, strategy and governance spanning science, education, primary industry, biosecurity and trusteeship. This experience has been gained across a range of industries and organisations where Ian has held roles as:
Ian is currently the Executive Officer and Research Director of STIMBR and Director of In Gear Global Ltd.
Recent work includes:
Ian holds the following qualifications:
He is a strategic and conceptual thinker. A talented leader able to consider the greater picture whether within an organisation, across a community, nationally or internationally.
Ian is a skilled business risk manager, able to effectively manage complex political relationships with central and local government, industry groups, staff and other stakeholders. A skilled facilitator.
Ian has over 35 years’ experience in management, strategy and governance spanning science, education, primary industry, biosecurity and trusteeship. This experience has been gained across a range of industries and organisations where Ian has held roles as:
- A consultant providing technical advice, complex stakeholder management, communications and project management services across biosecurity, environment and public health.
- Research Director and Chairman – Stakeholders in Methyl Bromide Reduction Inc (STIMBR)
- A member of the International Forestry Quarantine Research Group – a group under the auspices of the International Plant Protection Convention
- Managing genetically modified organism responses for the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI)
- Director, Painted Apple Moth Eradication Project
- Director and co-owner Heritage Horticulture Ltd (A large wholesale nursery and plant breeding business)
- Head of Department for the Agriculture/Horticulture Faculty at Waikato Polytechnic
- New Zealand Government Viticultural Scientist.
Ian is currently the Executive Officer and Research Director of STIMBR and Director of In Gear Global Ltd.
Recent work includes:
- Directing and managing STIMBR’s research programme which seeks to reduce methyl bromide emissions through alternative phytosanitary treatments for methyl bromide
- Advising clients in matters of biosecurity and related disciplines
- Negotiating and preparing resource consents for agrichemicals
- Representing client interests and providing advice regarding the Government Industry Agreements being implemented by MPI
- Providing significant thought leadership for and leading the Toolbox component of the Future of Pest Management project
- Facilitating the preparation of a Biotechnology Review Framework for the Ministry of Research Science and Technology
- Assisting with the setup of the New Zealand Walking Access Commission
- Project managing the implementation of the Hydrilla eradication response in the Tutira lakes for MPI and providing continuity for this 30 year programme.
- A Fellow of the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture in recognition of services to horticulture
- A Member of the New Zealand Biosecurity Institute.
Ian holds the following qualifications:
- B.Hort.Sc. (Lincoln)
- Dip. Parks and Recreation Administration (Lincoln)
- Trained Tertiary Lecturer
- Trained Auditor (Quality Management Systems).
Helen Gear - Director
Helen Gear has nearly 40 years of experience in project leadership and management; procurement and investment systems design and implementation; grant application preparation; contract negotiation and management; policy implementation and business process design; IT/process interface; horticultural production systems; and plant pest management.
This experience has been gained across a range of industries and organisations including:
Helen has a reputation for being a pragmatic and logical thinker. She has a strong reputation for bridging the gap between policy and the problem at hand. Helen delights in finding solutions and adding value.
Helen’s current work includes a significant contract to provide Executive Officer services to the New Zealand Plant Market Access Council (2010-present). The council is made up of Industry stakeholders and Government agencies and provides a forum to identify issues and optimise market access for New Zealand’s plant industries. Helen is responsible for supporting Council activities and progressing initiatives between meetings. Over the last two years she has been heavily involved in projects to review New Zealand’s phytosanitary certification system and progress preemptive government-to-government agreements.
Helen worked for the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology in two consecutive roles as a business manager (environment) and manager (investment processes). She developed and implemented processes to support the Foundation’s response to the government's stable funding initiative.
Previous positions have included time with the Ministry for Agriculture and Fisheries MAF (now MPI) as a terrestrial and aquatic weed specialist and the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA).
Helen worked on contract for the New Zealand EPA for the Hazardous Substances Group. During that time she undertook risk assessments of and project managed processes for a number of pesticide import applications (Both notified and non-notified); developed a template for low risk non-notified applications, provided the non-toxicological input to the development of the “Tattoo and Permanent Makeup Group Standard” (a first for New Zealand) and contributed to the development of the group reassessment of organophosphate and carbamate pesticides.
Helen was a Director of Heritage Horticulture Ltd for 21 years. During that time she developed the business to be one of the leading wholesale plant production nurseries, supplying retailers throughout New Zealand. Heritage Horticulture had a reputation for innovation, high quality and service.
Helen served as a board member of Crop and Food Research Institute, a Crown Research Institute, for five years.
This experience has been gained across a range of industries and organisations including:
- New Zealand Plant Market Access Council Executive Officer (contracted)
- Foundation for Research, Science and Technology – Manager Business Process 2005-08
- Foundation for Research, Science and Technology – Manager Environment and Society 2003-05
- New Zealand Environmental Protection Agency – EPA (Then ERMA) 2002–03 New Organisms Advisor
- EPA – Hazardous substances (various contract and consultancies) 2008-13
- Board member – Crop and Food Research Institute (now Plant and Food Research) 1994-99
- Director – Heritage Horticulture Ltd 1982-2002
Helen has a reputation for being a pragmatic and logical thinker. She has a strong reputation for bridging the gap between policy and the problem at hand. Helen delights in finding solutions and adding value.
Helen’s current work includes a significant contract to provide Executive Officer services to the New Zealand Plant Market Access Council (2010-present). The council is made up of Industry stakeholders and Government agencies and provides a forum to identify issues and optimise market access for New Zealand’s plant industries. Helen is responsible for supporting Council activities and progressing initiatives between meetings. Over the last two years she has been heavily involved in projects to review New Zealand’s phytosanitary certification system and progress preemptive government-to-government agreements.
Helen worked for the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology in two consecutive roles as a business manager (environment) and manager (investment processes). She developed and implemented processes to support the Foundation’s response to the government's stable funding initiative.
Previous positions have included time with the Ministry for Agriculture and Fisheries MAF (now MPI) as a terrestrial and aquatic weed specialist and the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA).
Helen worked on contract for the New Zealand EPA for the Hazardous Substances Group. During that time she undertook risk assessments of and project managed processes for a number of pesticide import applications (Both notified and non-notified); developed a template for low risk non-notified applications, provided the non-toxicological input to the development of the “Tattoo and Permanent Makeup Group Standard” (a first for New Zealand) and contributed to the development of the group reassessment of organophosphate and carbamate pesticides.
Helen was a Director of Heritage Horticulture Ltd for 21 years. During that time she developed the business to be one of the leading wholesale plant production nurseries, supplying retailers throughout New Zealand. Heritage Horticulture had a reputation for innovation, high quality and service.
Helen served as a board member of Crop and Food Research Institute, a Crown Research Institute, for five years.